July 22, 2005

Everything and Still Some

Thanks for all of the horse racing advice. I'm going to spend the morning prepping, studying racing forms, looking at pictures of horses with funny names, and picking out the perfect hat to wear to Del Mar. Instead of the regular goodness you've come to expect <cough>, I'm giving you a quick rundown and update of all the categories I've used here at Syntax of Things:

Baseball: The Braves have regained their rightful place atop the division standings. Ok, so they're tied for first, but it's been a long two months of waiting for the inevitable.

Books & Writers: I will be picking up the McCarthy novel at some point before going out to the track.

General: According to this report: "The central Appalachian states lead the nation in toothlessness. More than 32 percent of Tennessee residents surveyed last year had lost six or more teeth because of decay or gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That number was 38 percent in Kentucky and 43 percent in West Virginia, which holds the distinction of the most toothless state. Kentucky ranked No. 1 in toothlessness in 2003."

Fisherman on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. display a massive 1,100-pound tiger shark Sunday, July 17, 2005. Unfortunately, the fisherman failed to capture first place in the monster shark derby because their boat was six minutes too late in returning to Oak Bluffs harbor with its catch. (AP Photo/Chris Lewis, ohmycod.com)

San Diego: Well, let's see. Our mayor resigned shortly after being named one of the three worst mayors in the country. Within moments of the interim mayor's ascendancy to power, he was convicted, along with another city councilman, of taking bribes from some strip club owners who hoped they would help repeal San Diego's "no touch" law. There was actually a third councilman convicted, but he died last year of liver failure brought on by some heavy drinking (allegedly). Well, the two convicted councilman have now resigned, meaning that I am without representation until at the earliest November. Meanwhile, we are to elect a new mayor this Tuesday and I don't think anyone gives a damn.

Smoking: Operation Quit-by-Christmas is still in the planning stages. Considering hypnotism.

Sports: "It is 'Faith Night' at the ballpark. The Class A Hagerstown Suns are among the minor league teams, mostly in the South, that will bring in Christian entertainers, have players give their testimonies, conduct faith trivia quizzes for prizes and have giveaways that could include biblical bobble-head dolls." (emphasis mine)

The Books I've Read: I hope to have a sidebar up soon showing the list of books I've completed this year. Right now, I'm on book 32 of 2005, a little off of last year's pace but not bad considering the lack of time I've had this year.

The Kerouac Project: On hold. Blame the recent slate of new books that have kept me away from Kerouac. I still want to do this but for now Jack will have to wait.

Tour of California League: Geoff and I will be hitting the road in August to check out the new park in Stockton and the non-Cal League stadium in Fresno.

Weather: This is usually my least favorite time of year to live in San Diego. Long months of no rain in the forecast. Incredibly enough, we have a significant chance of some thunderstorms over the next few days thanks to a nice monsoonal flow and the remnants of the latest Atlantic hurricane. This does mean that the humidity has gone up significantly, and along with a heat wave it makes for some uncomfortable sleeping in an apartment that has only one window a/c unit.

Would You Like Fries with That: This is the one project/category that I want to finish before the end of the year. That's my goal, but I'm not making any promises.